Paximadia

The Paximadia Islands (Greek παξιμάδια (n. pl. ), " Rusk islands" ) are two uninhabited islands in the bay of Messara, located about ten kilometers off the coast of southern Crete. Before the west end a stand-alone rock protrudes like a tower from the sea, but too small to speak of a third island, as well as a further situated between the islands of rock.

The elongated, westernmost island is called Sakolévas and the smaller is called Akoníza.

In ancient times, the islands of the goddess Leto were dedicated and were called " Letoai ". The almost barren rocky islands are relatively well known, since they can be seen by a large section of the south coast of Crete. The western of the two reaches a height of at least 252 meters and measures 1.1 km ², the eastern is only 166 meters high and covers an area of ​​0.6 km ². For a settlement of the islands in ancient times there is no evidence.

The Paximadia islands play a central role in the novel " The Cretan hospitality " by Klaus Modick.